What You Can Do When Mortgage Rates Are a Moving Target

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on April 23, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, Mortgage Rates, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

Have you seen where mortgage rates have been lately? One day they go down a little. The next day, they go back up again. It can feel confusing and even frustrating if you’re trying to decide whether now’s a good time to buy a home.Take a look at the graph below. It uses data from Mortgage News Daily to show that after a relatively stable month of March, mortgage rates have been on a bit of a roller coaster ride in April: This kind of up-and-down volatility is expected when economic changes are happening.And that’s one of the reasons why trying to time the market isn’t your best move. You...

Don’t Miss This Prime Spring Window To Sell Your House

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on April 22, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

According to Realtor.com, the best week to list your house this year was April 13–19. And since that week has come and gone, you might be wondering: did I miss my chance? Not at all – and here’s why.That’s just one source’s take, based on their own research. Other organizations run similar studies. And since different places use different methodologies for their research, sometimes the results vary too – and that’s actually good news for you. According to Zillow, the best time to list your house is still ahead.The latest research from Zillow says sellers who list their homes in late May...

If the Asking Price Isn’t Compelling, It’s Not Selling

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on April 19, 2025. Posted in For Sellers, Infographics, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage, Selling Tips.

Some HighlightsUnfortunately, a lot of sellers today are setting their asking price too high. That’s leading to an uptick in price cuts.?Some of the most common reasons this is happening are that they’re not paying attention to current market conditions or they’re trying to leave room for negotiation.The best way to avoid this mistake? Connect with an agent to make sure your house is priced to pull people in, not push them away.

Pre-Approval Isn’t Commitment – It’s Clarity

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on April 18, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

If buying a home is on your radar – even if it’s more of a someday plan than a right now plan – getting pre-approved early is still one of the smartest moves you can make. Why? Because, like anything in life, the right prep work makes things clearer.The best time to get serious about buying is before you’re ready to buy. Here’s why.Pre-Approval Helps You Understand Your NumbersOne of the biggest benefits of pre-approval is how it helps you understand your buying power. As part of the pre-approval process, a lender will walk through your finances and tell you what you can borrow based on...

Do You Think the Housing Market’s About To Crash? Read This First

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on April 17, 2025. Posted in Economy, Home Prices, Inventory, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

Lately, it feels like a lot of people have been asking the same question: “Is the housing market about to crash?”If you’ve been scrolling through social media or watching the news, you might have seen some pretty scary headlines yourself. That’s why it’s no surprise that, according to data from Clever Real Estate, 70% of Americans are worried about a housing crash in 2025.But before you hit pause on your plans to buy or sell a home, take a deep breath. The truth is: the housing market isn’t about to crash – it’s just shifting. And that shift actually works in your favor.Today’s Inventory...

Are You Saving Up To Buy a Home? Your Tax Refund Can Help

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on April 16, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

You’ve been working on your savings and dreaming of that moment when you finally have keys to a place that’s truly yours. What you might not realize is that your tax return could give you a little extra cash to help you get there sooner. As Freddie Mac notes:“ . . . your tax refund from the IRS can be a useful supplement to your homebuying budget.” So, if you’re getting a tax refund this year, you can use it to help you pay for some of the upfront costs that come with buying a home, like the down payment and closing costs. And here’s the best part.On average, people are getting even more...

4 Ways To Make an Offer That Stands Out This Spring

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on April 15, 2025. Posted in Agent Value, Buying Tips, For Buyers, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

Now that spring is here, more and more buyers are jumping back into the market, and competition is heating up.If you’re serious about landing a home you’ll love, you need more than just a wish list. You need a smart strategy – and that starts with working with a great agent who can help you put together a strong offer.Here are some top tips your agent will share with you that are helping buyers stand out (and win) in today’s market.1. Don’t Lowball on PriceIt’s tempting to start with a super low offer in an attempt to save money. But in a competitive spring market, that could backfire. If...

A Recession Doesn’t Mean a Housing Crisis

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on April 12, 2025. Posted in Economy, Infographics, Mortgage Rates, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

Some HighlightsThere’s a lot of talk about a recession lately and how the odds of one are rising. If you’re wondering what that means for the housing market, here’s what the data tells us.While you may remember the price crash in 2008, that’s not the norm. Looking back all the way to 1980, home prices usually rise and mortgage rates tend to fall. If you have questions about buying or selling a home in today’s market, connect with a real estate agent.

Why You Don’t Want To Skip Your Home Inspection

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on April 11, 2025. Posted in Agent Value, Buying Tips, For Buyers, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

When you finally find the home you want to buy, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement. You’ve toured the place, imagined your furniture in it, maybe even pictured your morning coffee on the porch. The last thing you want is to slow down the process with more steps or lose out to another buyer’s offer because they skipped their inspection.But here’s the thing. Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make. And no matter how perfect that house seems, skipping a home inspection is a risk that could cost you a lot more than just time.What Exactly Is a Home...

Does Your Current Home Fit Your Retirement Plans?

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on April 10, 2025. Posted in Downsize, Economy, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

Retirement isn’t just a milestone. It’s the beginning of something really special. After years of hard work, it’s finally time to slow down, explore new passions, and live life on your own terms.But with this exciting chapter comes some big choices. And one of the biggest is this: does your current home still make sense for the lifestyle (and budget) you want in this next phase of life?That’s an especially important question right now. Just in the past five years, the cost of living has jumped by 23% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That’s based on the Consumer Price...

Category: Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage